Japanese Incense

Incense has been an important part of Japanese culture for hundreds of years, and it continues to be popular today. This is a timeline exploring the history of incense, known in Japan as Koh, and the role it has played in Japanese tradition.

Incense is an aromatic material composed of scented plants and essential oils that releases fragrant smoke when burned. It originated in 538 AD with the arrival of Buddhism to Japan, where its use was transmitted through religious and spiritual rituals.